L'Esprit s'amuse

From the stage to the movie screen, but under the direction of David Lean, it probably couldn't have gone wrong. I didn't think I would be interested in the film, after all, I was a bit prejudiced about his age, but as it turned out, that was completely unnecessary. This is a very entertaining film even after seventy years, and it kept me entertained with its pleasant atmosphere and wit. (10/10/2016)

I saw the latest remake of this film some time ago, and I got to see the original today. I came to three major conclusions. Despite being nearly eighty years old, the film is still surprisingly fresh and entertaining, undoubtedly also thanks to having been colorized. Despite being such a breezy entertaining watch, it will surely be blacklisted soon for disrespecting Indians. The third observation is that the latest version followed the original almost to the letter, but there were still a few differences. I find the original more intimate and more dialogue-centered. If I should pick something I didn’t like about the film, it's the pistachio ghosts who reminded me too much of water spirits. / "ls there anyone there? Is there anyone there? One rap for yes. Two raps for no." / Lesson learned: Don't give in to the occult. (01/10/2022)

David Lean is said to have had no sense of humour, so this is one of the only two comedies he made, and his third collaboration with successful playwright Noel Coward. To make this comedy farce cinematically watchable and to wipe away the theatrical gloss, Lean altered it a bit, added locations, but that badly upset Coward, who rejected the result out of hand. I think it was unwarranted. The result is quite a enjoyable conversational movie, with snappy dialogue here and there and, as a bonus, a young and still slim Rex Harrison. I just don't understand the Oscar for special effects, the four short interludes were nothing special at that time and you can see the same thing but executed better in the 12 years older The Invisible Man. (23/07/2012)